BARCELONA have confirmed Andre Gomes will miss tonight’s friendly against Chapecoense amid rumours he is being lined up in a swap deal for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho.
Barcelona are in the market for a marquee signing following the shock £200million departure of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain last week.
The Catalan side have reportedly identified Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho as their No 1 target, although the Reds are not keen to sell.
To soften the deal, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claim Barca are willing to include Portugal international Andre Gomes as a makeweight.
Jurgen Klopp is reportedly keen on the 24-year-old and he has intriguingly been left out of Barca’s pre-season game against Chapecoense this evening.
“Andre Gomes and Thomas Vermaelen will both be sitting out the game against Chapecoense,” a club statement read.
“The Portuguese player took a knock in the hip playing against Gimnastic Tarragona last Friday, while the Belgian hurt his leg in the same match.”
The timing of the two players’ absences has further fuelled talk they could be on their way out of the Nou Camp.
Besides Gomes being linked with a move to Anfield, former Arsenal man Vermaelen has also been tipped for a return to the Premier League with Everton.
However, Barca will do well to tempt the Reds into selling Coutinho this summer after Klopp insisted he would not be leaving.
“Yes [he is not for sale], but that’s not since this morning or yesterday, it’s not been any different,” he said last month.
“Phil is a very important player for us. He’s trying to get back his rhythm but there’s no doubting his quality. He’s very smart both offensively and defensively.
“I’m not surprised that any club is interested in players at Liverpool. The very important message is that we are not a selling club and that’s how it is.
“We believe in working together and developing together. We want to make the next step together and for this we need to stay together.”
Source:www.express.co.uk